Cream of the crop: #1 Jimmy Rollins (Phil) #2 Jose Reyes(NYM) #3 Hanley Ramirez (FLA) #4 Derek Jeter (NYY) #5 Michael Young (Tex) #6 Rafael Furcal (LAD) #7 Miguel Tejada (Hou)

The next best: #8 Troy Tulowitzki, (Col) #9 Orlando Cabrera (CHW) #10 Edgar Renteria (Det) #11 Felipe Lopez (Wash) #12 Jhonny Peralta (Clev)

You could do worse: #13 Julio Lugo (Bos) #14 J.J. Hardy (Milw) #15 Khalil Greene (SD) #16 David Eckstein (Tor) #17 Steven Drew (Arz) #18 Juan Uribe (CHW) #19 Bobby Crosby (Oak) #20 Yuniesky Betancourt (SEA) #21 Omar Vizquel (SF) #22 Jason Bartlett (TB)

Hope and Prey: #23 Ryan Theriot (Cubs) #24 Yunel Escobar (Atl) #25 Cesar Izturis (Stl) #26 Cristian Guzman (Wash) #27 Marco Scutaro (Tor) #28 Alex Gonzalez (Cin) #29 Erick Aybar (LAA) #30 Adam Everett (Min)

Career Year: Hanley Ramirez (FLA) Hanley followed a very good 2006 Rookie campaign with a "Superstar" like season in 2007. He's 24 years old and had the following stats last year----- .332, 29 HR's, 81 RBI, 48 Doubles, and 51 Stolen Bases in 639 at-bats. There is nothing he can't do on a baseball field. He will be a one man gang once again for the young fish.

Sleeper: Rafael Furcal (LAD) Furcal's 2007 season was effectively ruined on March 22 in a Spring Training game at Holman Stadium against Baltimore. Orioles outfielder Corey Patterson sent a blooper into shallow center field; Furcal raced out, center fielder Jason Repko raced in. Repko slid as Furcal reached to make the catch, but Repko's foot clipped Furcal's left foot just as it landed, bearing all of his weight, and the ankle turned badly.

Furcal spent the first two weeks of the season on the disabled list. He went to Class A Inland Empire for a rehab assignment, which he cut short after two games, declaring he was ready to play, even though his actions on the field said otherwise. He had trouble with any quick movement on the left ankle and lacked rear-leg stability batting left-handed that lingered all season.

Furcal is 100% healthy and will be a free agent at season's end. Expect huge numbers from Furcal now that he is healthy. At press time he is batting .340 this spring.

Bust: Miguel Tejada (Hou) He is a risk only because his HR totals have declined in each of the past four seasons. He certainly will be playing in the easiest home stadium to be successful so far in his career. He just might prove me wrong. I hope he does!
 

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